WEBVTT BACKLASH PERSONALLY. >> I HAVE NEVER BEEN FEARFUL OF MUCH. I BELIEVE WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. STEWART:NEVER BEFORE HAS A VERMONT GOVERNOR CONSIDERED SIGNING THIS KIND OF GUN REFORM INTO LAW. IT HAS LEFT THE STATEHOUSE ON THE EDGE. A BOMB SNIFFING DOG ROAM THE HALLS TUESDAY A DAY BEFORE THE CEREMONY. IT EXPANDS CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, WOULD BAN BUMP STOCKS AND THE SALE OF HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES. IT RAISES THE AGE FOR MANY TO BUY A GUN TO 21. >> I WANT TO GET OUT MAGAZINES. STEWART: THAT HAS TOUCHED OFF A FIRESTORM, CRIES OF TRADER FROM GROUPS WHO SEE VERMONT TRADITION FADING AWAY. >> THE FEAR THAT MANY HAVE ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL DOES AND DOES NOT DO, MANY FEEL IT IS TAKING AWAY THEIR GUNS. MANY FEEL IT IS TAKING AWAY THEIR MAGAZINES. THIS BILL DOES NOT TAKE AWAY ANYONE’ AS MAGAZINES, ANYONE’S GUNS. STEWART: SCOTT SAYS HE REVERSED IN -- HE REVERSED HIS OWN LONG-STANDING OPPOSITION TO GUN REFORM AFTER THAT DAY IN FEBRUARY WHEN HE LEARNED OF THE PLOT BY A TEENAGER PLANNING TO OPEN FIRE ON HIS HIGH SCHOOL. >> UNDERSTAND WHAT POSITION I AM IN. THE RESPONSIBILITY I FEEL FOR OUR CITIZENS AS GOVERNOR TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS IS ENORMOUS. STEWART: HE LAMENTS THE BACKLASH ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HE SAYS HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTERS HAVE FELT IT ON FACEBOOK. SOME OF IT, VICIOUS. >> YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END? >> ABSOLUTELY. STEWART:THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WOULD NOT DISCUSS SECURITY THREATS BUT HOPES MOST OF THE STATE WILL SEE WHERE HE IS COMING FROM AND REALIZE NONE OF THE BILLS HE IS SIGNING IN FRINGE ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT. >> I ACCEPT THE ANGER, THE DISAPPOINTMENT AND IF THERE IS A POLITICAL PRICE TO PAY, I ACCEPT THAT AS WELL. STEWART: LET THE CHIPS FALL? >> LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. STEWART:TAMARA’S SECURITY EXPECTED TO BE TIGHT AS HE DELIVERS REMARKS IN FRONT OF EIGHT LARGE AND DIVIDED CROWD ON THE STEPS OF THE STATE CAPITAL. HE WANTS TO

Gov. Phil Scott plans to sign three gun reform bills into law Wednesday afternoon, convinced he must act to reduce the risk of gun violence spreading to Vermont.

But it remained unclear Tuesday whether Scott would hold the signing ceremony outdoors on the Statehouse lawn as planned.

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The location is a concern for law enforcement officials because of tensions surrounding the occasion.

The first-term Republican governor reversed his long-standing opposition to new state gun laws in February, after learning of an alleged plot by a Fair Haven Union High School teenager to open fire on his high school.

That discovery came a day after a gunman opened fire at a high school in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 students and staff.

Still, Scott has faced an angry backlash from gun rights groups and even his own supporters, who consider him a traitor.

The governor said much of that is due to misinformation about what the trio of bills, and S.55 in particular, actually change and don't change about gun rights in Vermont.

"(We) don't take anyone's guns away, or even take anyone's magazines away," Scott said. "You can continue to buy (high-capacity) magazines until Oct. 1 and, at that point, nobody's asking you to give them up. You still have them. You're still able to go in and out of state with those magazines. This doesn't take anything away, from my perspective, and doesn't infringe on the Second Amendment whatsoever."

S.55 does, however, extend criminal background checks to private firearms sales and raises the age to buy a firearm to 21, though it will remain 18 for those in law enforcement, the military and for buyers who've passed an approved gun safety course.

Scott said it's been painful to hear from longtime supporters who feel deeply disappointed by his decision to sign the bill into law.

He declined to discuss threats he's received but said his wife and daughters and close friends have endured a backlash on social media and in the supermarket as a result of his decision.

Scott said some of the online messages have been vicious.

Still, he hopes to correct some misinformation at the ceremony on Wednesday, and chart a path forward he hopes will begin to heal the division.

"At least understand what position I'm in. The responsibility I feel for our citizens, the responsibility as governor to protect our citizens is enormous."

Scott, who has enjoyed one of the highest approval ratings of any state governor, said he's prepared for whatever political price he might pay this fall.

He's already facing a challenge in the GOP primary from Keith Stern, an ardent Second Amendment defender from North Springfield.

On Tuesday, state Sen. John Rodgers, D-Essex/Orleans, said he's considering challenging Scott as either an independent, a Democrat or a Republican.

Rodgers said Scott "broke his promise" to Vermonters.

The governor said he'll accept what comes.

"I didn't get into politics in order to make this a career, so my responsibility is to protect Vermonters to the best of my ability, with the information I have at that point in time," he said. "This wasn't easy to admit you may have been wrong (to oppose all gun reform.) It isn't easy for any of us and wasn't easy in this case but I accept the anger. I accept the disappointment. If there's a political price to pay, I accept that as well."